AKQA

Auckland

Experience Design Lead

FULL TIME ON-SITE SENIOR

Posted 2 days ago

Role Overview

As an Experience Design Lead at AKQA, you will lead the UI vision and craft for innovative digital experiences, specifically focusing on native mobile platforms. You will partner with cross-functional teams to translate brand strategy into refined user interfaces while mentoring other designers to elevate the standard of craft.

Key Responsibilities

Lead native mobile UI development across iOS and Android platforms
Translate brand strategy into refined UI and meaningful micro-interactions
Define interaction and motion intent while prototyping key user journeys
Build and maintain scalable systemised UI components within Figma
Govern design systems using Atomic principles and token-to-code alignment
Embed WCAG 2.2 accessibility standards into all design outputs

Requirements Snapshot

Deep expertise in iOS Human Interface Guidelines and Android Material 3
Advanced prototyping skills using tools like ProtoPie, Rive, or After Effects
Proven ability to balance creative ambition with scalable design foundations
Strong communication skills to align stakeholders and agile squads
Experience mentoring designers and leading within an agile environment

Expected Impact

You will set the standard for innovation and craft, ensuring that every digital experience shipped is both beautiful and effective. By guiding teams through complexity and fostering a culture of excellence, you will elevate the overall quality of native mobile experiences for global brands.

This summary was generated from the original job posting (AI-assisted, human-reviewed).
For full details, visit the company's site.

Auckland – Tāmaki Makaurau, New Zealand

Experience Design Lead

At AKQA, our Experience Design discipline sets the standard for innovation, creativity, and craft. As an Experience Design Lead (UI), you’ll lead the UI vision and craft for courageous digital experiences, setting the bar for quality, guiding teams through complexity, and ensuring what we ship is as beautiful as it is effective.

In this role, you’ll be a hands-on leader who partners closely with UX designers, strategists, technologists, and delivery teams to turn insight into brand-led native mobile experiences. This role is for someone who can elevate others while delivering pixel-perfect UI, and who knows how to express play and emotion through motion, interaction, and visual language.

As part of AKQA, you’ll work in an innovative and inclusive culture, surrounded by some of the brightest minds in their fields. You’ll have the opportunity to learn and grow within a creative and technically advanced team, with access to ongoing personal and professional development. Our hybrid in-studio/WFH model supports balance and flexibility, and we’re committed to your career growth as well as your work/life balance.

ROLE REQUIREMENTS

Lead native mobile UI across iOS (Human Interface Guidelines) and Android (Material 3), setting the craft bar for platform excellence.
Translate brand strategy into refined UI and meaningful micro-interactions, shaping states, motion and tone.
Define interaction, motion intent and prototyping key journeys.
Build scalable, systemised UI in Figma.
Govern design systems through Atomic principles, clear documentation and token-to-code alignment.
Embed WCAG 2.2 accessibility by default.
Lead within agile squads, aligning stakeholders, partnering closely with Technology and Project Management.
Mentor designers to elevate the standard of craft.

QUALITIES AND CHARACTERISTICS

Pixel-perfect UI craft, with deep iOS (HIG) and Android (Material 3) expertise.
Prototyping capability across key journeys, ProtoPie, Rive, Lottie or After Effects, is advantageous.
A brand-led interaction thinker with a system-first mindset, balancing creative ambition with scalable design foundations.
A strategic and articulate communicator who aligns stakeholders and agile squads with clarity and intent.
Craft-obsessed, pragmatic, delivery-minded leader who mentors and designs inclusive-by-default.

We believe great work happens when we're together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection. That's why we’ve adopted a hybrid approach including required in-office days. If you require accommodations or flexibility, please discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process.

AKQA is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without discrimination or regard to particular characteristics. We are committed to fostering a culture of respect in which everyone feels they belong and has the same opportunities to progress in their careers.

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View Original Job Post

AKQA

Experience Design Lead

Role Overview

Key Responsibilities

Requirements Snapshot

Expected Impact

Original Job Description

Auckland – Tāmaki Makaurau, New Zealand

Experience Design Lead

This job post is no longer open to applicants.

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AKQA

Experience Design Lead

Role Overview

Key Responsibilities

Requirements Snapshot

Expected Impact

Original Job Description

Auckland – Tāmaki Makaurau, New Zealand

Experience Design Lead

This job post is no longer open to applicants.

Data provenance

Get instant feedbackfor this role

Match analysis

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